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Friday, March 11, 2011

What's Better Than a Free Book? How About a Million of Them....

Posted by Alana T.

One million books (40,000 copies each of 25 different titles) were distributed free last Saturday night across the UK and Ireland in celebration of World Book Night. The goal was to have 20,000 members of the public distribute 48 books to others who may not have access to books, or who are reluctant readers. The remaining copies were distributed to prisons, hospitals and other locations where books may not be easily accessible.

A committee selected 25 titles that cover a wide range of literary genres and time periods, with the hope that there was something in the list for every type of reader. The founders of World Book Night are optimistic that distribution of free books and positive publicity about the joy of reading will encourage everyone to strengthen their relationships with books.

A number of events publicized the celebration, culminating in public readings by a variety of authors in London. Other writers gave interviews in British newspapers (read one by Margaret Atwood), on television and on the radio. Interestingly, some of the press about the event was negative, with a few booksellers concerned that giving away books was eating into their bottom line. However, the general opinion was that World Book Night was a wonderful celebration of books and the joys of reading a good story.

Most of the titles are available through the library system. Click on the link above to read descriptions of each book, and if any look interesting to you, request them here:

A Fine Balance by Robinton MistryAgent Zigzag by Ben MacIntyreAll Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria RemarqueBeloved by Toni MorrisonCase Histories by Kate AtkinsonCloud Atlas by David MitchellDissolution by C.J. SansomFingersmith by Sarah WatersHalf of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieKilling Floor by Lee ChildLife of Pi by Yann MartelLove in the Time of Cholera by Gariel Garcia MarquezNorthern Lights (The Golden Compass in the U.S.) by Philip PullmanOne Day by David NichollsRachel's Holiday by Marian KeyesStuart by Alexander MastersThe Blind Assassin by Margaret AtwoodThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark HaddonThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel SparkThe Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin HamidThe Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le CarreToast by Nigel Slater